At 12:30 President Sue began the meeting by ringing the Rotary bell.
Lolo Robison, in response to the strife occurring in our world, delivered a heartfelt invocation of healing and peace. America the Beautiful was the patriotic song for the day, in which we all joined in singing.
Craig Spencer circulated the microphone for the introduction of guests. Bob Hoffman introduced Jessie Williams, news director for WSYM Fox 47.
Diane Sanborn announced that Lisa Smith’s husband is back in the hospital, and will be there for a while.
Chris Holman gave details of the upcoming Loftus Day on September 10. Our Club began the tradition in 1924 when Frank Loftus took flowers to the grave of Charles Nichols, a past Rotary president. Flowers can be ordered from fellow Rotarian, Rick Anthony.
Ken Beachler introduced guest musician, Chey LaCasse. Ms. LaCasse admirably performed Imagine and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore and was accompanied by John Dale Smith.
Chair of the Day, Chris Holman introduced our speaker, Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan. The position was created under the Whitmer administration to help make sure Michigan is in the forefront of future transportation technologies.
In a bold start to an energetic and enlightening presentation, Trevor Pawl stated that “Living in the moment is the meaning of life.” And then leaned in with hoping that this would be the best 30 minutes of our day.
Mr. Pawl gave a great presentation on the present and future of mobility. One in five jobs in Michigan is in mobility (technologies and services that enable people and goods to move around more freely). By 2030 a majority of cars produced will be electric and will have at least some self driving features.
By 2071, people will still drive, but it will be expensive and inefficient. Streets will put people first and people second. People will get places through subscription plans. Advanced sensor technology and 3D mapping will help avoid accidents, needs for lanes, needs for horns.
Currently, 94% of traffic fatalities are because of human error; future technologies will change this. By 2030, 50% of the value of a car will be software.
He talked about how his team is working to keep the future of the mobility industry in Michigan by making sure we have a future based responsive policy.
President Sue thanked Trevor Pawl for his presentation, but she does not plan to be around in 2071 to see his future vision. She announced that in lieu of a speaker’s gift we will be making a donation in his honor to a local organization through our Lansing Rotary Foundation which has, over the history of our club, given in excess of $2,000,000 to local organizations and projects.
Posted by Chris Swope, his email: chris.swope@lansingmi.gov